Police Ignore Family Violations in Armenia

Armenian women subjected to violence in families turn to the police, but not frequently, a psychologist of Women’s Rights Centre Siranush Andreasyan said at a press conference today.

“The police cannot offer adequate assistance as thery are not entitled with relevant rights in this sector. The policemen can come and talk to the violator, sooth him. But it cannot be considered as a solution to the problem unless it is salvaged by the court”, said Andreasyan.

According to her traditionally women turn to the court for divorce. There have also been cases when the women have had physical injuries due to the violation.

Satenik Gevorgyan, the lawyer of the same centre, added that in most cases women’s appeals to the police are not responded.
“It is a rooted tradition in the society that family relations are purely personal: the woman and the man should solve their problems within the family. And the police do not pay that much attention to this problem,” explained she.

The centre has received this year more than 600 calls on violations on women both in the capital city of Yerevan and in the marzes (provinces). Last year there were 800 similar calls.

Experts say this growth of family violations is not accounted for by an increase in violations but rather by an increase in the level of awareness and breaking of stereotypes.